Report: Ohio Map May Be Redrawn to Punish Jordan

Rep. Jim Jordan (left) could find his district essentially eliminated in redistricting after he challenged fellow Ohioan Speaker John Boehner (center) on his debt limit proposal.

Rep. Jim Jordan (R) might pay the ultimate price for undercutting Speaker John Boehner’s (R-Ohio) efforts to pass a debt ceiling bill, according to a report Thursday in the Columbus Dispatch.

The cost? His safe Republican House seat.

The newspaper cited anonymous sources “deeply involved in configuring new Ohio congressional districts” who said that Jordan’s defiance puts his seat on the chopping block in 2012.

Ohio will lose two House seats next year, and Republicans in the Legislature will have to pick two districts to eliminate. Lawmakers will likely remove one Democratic seat from around Cleveland and one Republican seat from another part of the state.

The newspaper’s sources suggested that Jordan’s actions make his district an easy choice for removal. They described a map that would make Jordan’s district much more competitive by moving his home county into the same district as heavily black parts of Columbus.

Boehner released a statement late Thursday afternoon knocking down the report.

"Jim Jordan and I may not always agree on strategy, but we are friends and allies, and the word retribution is not in my vocabulary," the Speaker said. "I look forward to continuing to serve with him in the U.S. House after the redistricting process in Ohio is complete, and for many years to come.”

Jordan also released a statement after first posting the news story to his Facebook page, tweeting it and asking for feedback from supporters.

“We would hope that standing strong in favor of lower spending and balancing the federal budget would not be a reason to eliminate the district of a sitting member of Congress," Jordan said in his statement.

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March 13, 2015

Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call

Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., right, hugs Harold Schaitberger, General President of the International Association of Fire Fighters, after the Congressman spoke at the IAFF's Legislative Conference General Session at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill, March 9, 2015. The day featured addresses by members of Congress and Vice President Joe Biden.